Artwork from Ancient Atari History

Matey-O writes: "Safestuff.com contains some early information on Atari's arcade games. Internal memos, brainstorming sessions, and artist renderings that accurately predicted what arcades would look like. (Except there seems to be a LOT more women in the arcades than I seem to recall.) The artwork has been there a while, so it's archived on the wayback machine."

Comments

Stylin'

[alexmogil]

Looking at the pictures, the arcades 'of the future' force you to wear clothes 'of the past.'

Those games were fun to play...

[Doctor O]

...and I have very rarely had more fun with any "modern" game than I had with my old VCS2600. Maybe it was the fact that the graphics were so bad you had to use your imagination which made the game experience so much fun. Sure, interactive movies with 5.1 sound are impressive, but mostly they aren't as fun as a good match of David Crane's "Decathlon" with two joysticks and some friends.

Re:Those games were fun to play...

[Eskimo Bob]

It probably has to do with the fact that all a "modern" game needs to sell an assload of copies is to look pretty. having lots of space to make things pretty sort of does that. Original 2600 games were limited to 2k in size. And, many of the standard game types weren't invented yet (the shooter, the maze game, and the porn video game were basically it, oh and the single screen platformer and racing game). To make a game sell a lot o' copies, it had to be fun, cause it looked like ass. Which is why Custer's Revenge wasn't the best selling 2600 hundred game, and many E.T. carts currently occupy a nice, big, landfill. Those 2 games sucked.

Fun games are fun, even if they look like my ass. I'd rather play Super Breakout and Yars Revenge than most games released these days. Or even Dodge 'em.

I can't believe

[FastT]

I can't believe Atari thought so many "hot chicks" would be hanging out at the arcade playing their games. It's clear that this is the staff's collective male fantasy captured for all of us to see.

Maybe Atari's downfall was hastened because of their inability to see video game culture taken over by hordes of people just like them: mouth-breathing, pimply-faced, adolescent male dweebs in O.P. shorts.

2nd Generation Computer users

[BrookHarty]

My kids are 2nd generation computer users. I was the first in the family to get a computer and learn how to play games. My parents NEVER asked me what games I was playing, never monitored my online access (until my first 600 dollar long distance bill.) My parents didn't buy a home computer for themselves until 10 years after I had my first computer a c64.

My kids started using a computer when they could move a mouse. They would play the preschool toddler series, and graduated to basic movement games and puzzles, now its fighting games, racing sims and some RPG games. My girls can already play street fighter well enough to at least put up a fight. I wouldn't be surprised when they get older they want to play arcade games. They have been playing games for years.

It was 1 computer in the house when I was a kid, and it was in my room. Now its almost 1 in each room, and 6 in my den. Each kid has their own computer, all networked, internet access, Instant messaging, online games with other kids. They email and send pictures to the grandparents.

So am I surprised more girls are in arcades? No, Im more surprised that arcades can compete with a xbox, ps2 or pc.

-
Life is like a dogsled team. If you ain't the lead dog, the scenery never changes. - Lewis Grizzard

Interesting games

[FastT]

You know, looking at the list of items from the brainstorming session in February 1980, I see many games listed that would be more interesting that the clone games that have been in arcades for the last 5 years:

5) 1st person Space Invaders

11) 1st person Adventure - player moves through rooms (25 cents each) and encounters situations and characters in each

13) 1st person Cockroach - like wack-a-mole, but using feet (my personal favorite!)

15) Hang Glider - Hang from controls, terrain scrolls on video under feet

16) 1st person Mole - find your way out of 1st person maze. Screen is black except when you hit a wall. (Doesn't sound fun at all, but interesting nonetheless. It's the licorice of game designs.)

17) 1st person Skydiver -use fans or stereo sound to indicate wind direction.

18) Color/pattern generator based on player input. Could be located in discos and keyed to audio input from P.A.

It really sucks that Atari can't take these ideas and revitalize the arcade market. I'd love to see something new and unusual like these games.

Re:Interesting games

[mav[LAG]]

5) 1st person Space Invaders

Real Life Space Invaders was the funniest thing that happened to me in the army. The bombardier (artillery equivalent of a corporal) had us on parade and decided we should all play a game of Space Invaders.

He was the player and we were the invaders. We had to take small steps sideways saying "dun dun dun dun" and moving our arms correctly for effect while he shuffled sideways and threw stones at us. I distinctly remember being the last invader "killed" - of course by that time I was crabbing quite quickly and going "dununununununnunun" :)

Arcades cannot be beaten

[Beautyon]

Atari's vision of the future was pretty intelligent: games like "Thrill Drive" can only be appreciated in the arcade, sitting in a fully blown machine.

In the '70s they said "Home Taping is Killing Music". Today it can be said that "Home Gaming is killing Video Games". The custom hardware and elaborate bespoke controls that are deployed in Arcade games are ruled out for small, generic controls when you move from the arcade to the home console.

This is a Bad Thing®

There are some incredible games on home consoles, thats not in dispute. What I mourn is the ability to play a game like "Marble Madness" with its control (a huge trackball) made specially for the game, or "Paperboy" (bicycle handlebars), "Crystal Castles" (trackball), "Propcycle" (full size bicycle with fan in front to simulate rushing wind), and of course, "Missile Command", one of the early trackball games...there are so many examples. Ideally, the controls should be designed for the game. Game designers should be free to design both the controls and the gameplay.

I mourn the fact that these types of innovative game are being sidelined for development of Hollywood tie-in Lamestation fodder, and that so many Arcades have bitten the dust. In London, all the great Arcades have gone; the ones that remain are full of slot machines, meaning that no one under 18 can get in. The last big Arcade, at the Trocadero is full of poorly maintained machines, poor security, bumper cars and other distractions.

Namco Wonderworld is one of the last great, true arcades in London.

Those crazy Japanese...

[Hard_Code]

I wonder how they brainstormed *this* up:

Boon Ga Boon Ga